ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL ECO-LABELLING PROGRAM (NELP) IN THE PHILIPPINES, 2001-2011

by: Richard Bryan G. Bugarin, Julliane Magdalene Z. Lallana,** Ralph Christian C. Mancenido,* Karen D. Nogaliza,*** and Jose Emmanuel M. Pagkanlungan***

An undegraduate research paper submitted to to the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), March 2011

Adviser: Prof. Ebinezer R. Florano, Ph.D.

(To be published as Occassional Paper by UP-NCPAG's Publication Office. Advance copy of this paper can be obtained by contacting Mr. Ralph Mancenido via e-mail at ralph11_neo@yahoo.com)

ABSTRACT

The past twenty years saw the rapid upsurge of eco-labelling programs envisioned to address extensive ecological trepidations. European eco-labels led implementation of such scheme to help consumers make good purchasing choices in terms of which among the products in the market have the least negative environmental effects. In the Philippines, the National Eco-labelling Program (NELP) or Green Choice Philippines (GCP) became the government’s response apropos the call for environmental protection. Nevertheless, there exists an indistinct understanding of the effectiveness of eco-labelling on consumers’ consumption activities in the country. This paper assesses the effectiveness of the NELP in terms of achieving the goals and functions for which it has been created. It shows an assessment of the effects and impacts of the program from the years 2001 to 2011 and how these are influenced by the content of the eco-labelling policy and its context of implementation. Significant influences to the implementing activities of the program such as the: (1) program implementers, (2) resources committed, (3) power, interests and strategies of actors involved and (4) institution and regime characteristics have been taken into account to determine their effects on the output and outcome of the program. Industry participation, consumer recognition and demand and environmental quality of certified products were used as indicators to measure the effectiveness of the NELP for this particular study. A qualitative design which involves data gathering and the conduct of interviews with primary stakeholders as well as the collection secondary data was employed in deriving the recommendations that can be used by the NELP in order to improve its implementation of the eco-labelling program. Further, a case study and historical approach was used to arrive at a pattern of data and to analyze the influences to the implementing activities of the program. The results of study showed that the lack of appropriate, clear and comprehensive legal footing and the limited financial resources, both ominously influenced by the content of eco-labelling policy and implementation, are the primary reasons that caused the ineffectiveness of the program. Government intervention, through policy support, is deemed to be necessary to strengthen the implementation of the NELP and further its positive effects to the society. Congress may also look into the integration of the green procurement with that of the public fund-saving policy in procuring products that offer the lowest prices during government biddings. Finally, good governance in its truest sense should be upheld to avoid the added burden, from corruption, to manufacturers.

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*Graduated Summa Cum Laude, 2nd Semester, Academic Year 2010-2011.
**Graduated Magna Cum Laude, 2nd Semester, Academic Year 2010-2011.
***Graduated Cum Laude, 2nd Semester, Academic Year 2010-2011.

PCEPSDI CALLS FOR GREEN ADVERTISERS

Registration is Open for the Philippine Green Pages

The Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) is calling for all the producers and distributors to register their eco-friendly products and services to the first-ever Philippine’s eco-directory, the Philippine Green Pages to be launched on August 18, 2011 to satisfy the need for a list of environmentally friendly products and services to attain sustainability.

PCEPSDI, the administrator of the National Ecolabelling Programme – Green Choice Philippines (NELP-GCP) is advocating sustainable consumption and production to the industry and government and now expanding to a larger group – the youth through the newly formed Philippine Green Youth Movement (Phil GYM) and the general public through their new publication. PCEPSDI, a non-stock, non-profit and non-government organization, with Ms. Elisea ‘Bebet’ Gozun as its chairperson is adopting the Asian Productivity Organization’s (APO’s) asian-wide eco-directory in the Philippines.

In partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), PCEPSDI will publish the first-ever directory listing of ecolabelled products (Green Choice Philippines Certified), green products, green materials, green components, and green services. Fittingly titled, Philippine Green Pages (PGP), it aims to be the primary reference of all suppliers and providers of eco-friendly products. This will be used as a tool by institutional buyers greening their procurement, including the members of the Green Purchasing Alliance Movement (GPAM) and individual consumers in making purchasing decisions.

To name a few, energy saving appliances, accessories made out of recycled materials, stores using eco-bags, business solutions to save on electricity and water consumption can be registered to the maiden publication of PGP. This new kind of directory will also be published in the internet that would be a venue and an opportunity for eco-friendly products to become a staple item in an office or household.

For more details on how to register your green product and service, you may call the secretariat at 631-2151 or visit their website at http://pcepsdi.org/philgreenpages. You may also email them at greenchoicephilippines@pcepsdi.org.ph and philippinegreenpages@pcepsdi.org.ph.

* The National Ecolabelling Programme – Green Choice Philippines (NELP-GCP) is a project under the auspices of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
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If you’d like more information about this, or to schedule an interview with Mr. June M. Alvarez, please call Grace Lebria at 631-2151 or email at philippinegreenpages@gmail.com or greenchoicephilippines@gmail.com.

REDEFINING RESPONSIBLE BUYING

Registration is Open for the Philippine Green Pages

Energy saving appliances, office equipment made out of recycled materials, stores using eco-bags, business solutions to save on electricity and water consumption. A lot of talks have been made to promote these eco-friendly products and services. Conferences, exhibits, news articles on new technologies have been a staple venue to highlight the same. It is time to go beyond talking about it and start acting upon it.

The Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI), the administrator of the National Ecolabelling Programme – Green Choice Philippines (NELP-GCP) is advocating sustainable consumption and production. Redefining the boundaries of responsibilities, protecting the environment not only lies on how the industry operates, but also, on how we decide what to purchase and consume.

Together with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), PCEPSDI will publish the first-ever directory listing of ecolabelled products (Green Choice Philippines Certified), green products, green materials, green components, and green services. Fittingly titled, Philippine Green Pages (PGP), aims to be the primary reference of all suppliers and providers to be used by institutional buyers including the Green Purchasing Alliance Movement (GPAM) and individual consumers in making purchasing decisions.

The tools to go green are available. The challenge now is to change our consumption patterns and make green products and services accessible. It’s a matter of bridging the gap between consumers and green providers, and that is what PGP will address.

For more details on how to register your green product and service, you may call the secretariat at 631-2151 or visit their website at http://pcepsdi.org/philgreenpages. You may also email them at greenchoicephilippines@pcepsdi.org.ph and philippinegreenpages@pcepsdi.org.ph.

* PCEPSDI is a non-stock, non-profit and non-government organization duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It is an affiliate organization of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) with Ms. Elisea “Bebet” Gozun, former DENR secretary as the chairperson. PCEPSDI is also the administrator of the National Ecolabelling Programme – Green Choice Philippines (NELP-GCP), a project under the auspices of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

# # #

If you’d like more information about this, or to schedule an interview with Mr. June M. Alvarez, please call Grace Lebria at 631-2151 or email at philippinegreenpages@gmail.com or greenchoicephilippines@gmail.com.